Primary Culture of Myogenic Progenitor Cells Derived from Embryologically Diverse Post-Mortem Human Skeletal Muscles
In brief
Post-mortem muscle produces expandable myogenic cells in one of three donors
Researchers isolated satellite-like cells from six different muscles of three elderly donors using a six-week culture protocol; viable, myotube-forming cultures were achieved in only one donor, representing a 33% success rate. The work shows that post-mortem tissue can yield myogenic progenitors across embryologic origins, but donor variability currently limits reliable use.
- Journal
- Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft (Q2)
- Published
- 29 July 2026
- Study design
- Unclassified
- Evidence level
- Level 5, Expert Opinion (CEBM 5)
- Authors
- Florian J Jaklin, Liz Keller, Andreas Spittler, Lukas Reissig, Oskar C Aszmann
- PMID
- 42526816
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.aanat.2026.153348
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Embryology (top studies of the week, 2 August 2026).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Primary human satellite cells (SCs) are essential for skeletal muscle regeneration research, but access to tissue is constrained by the need for invasive biopsies. Post-mortem muscle represents a potential alternative, yet data on establishing expandable myogenic cultures from multiple human muscle groups are sparse. OBJECTIVE: To develop a workflow for isolating, expanding, and morphologically assessing myogenic progenitor cells from embryologically distinct muscles of human body donors. METHODS: Eighteen biopsies from six muscles (erector spinae, vastus lateralis, brachioradialis, masseter, extraocular muscles, diaphragm) were collected from three body donors (age 79-85 years; post-mortem intervals 13-30hours). Cells were isolated by enzymatic dissociation, enriched by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (CD31⁻/CD45⁻/CD56⁺), and cultured for six weeks. Differentiation was assessed by phase-contrast microscopy. RESULTS: Viable cells were isolated from all donors (median viability 10.3%). Cultures were established from one of three donors; the remaining two failed due to insufficient biopsy size (procedural) and low viability despite the shortest post-mortem interval (biological), respectively. In the successful donor, five of six muscles including somitic and non-somitic origins gave rise to adherent cultures forming structures morphologically consistent with myotubes. Culture viability increased from 11.6% to 36.7% over six weeks. CONCLUSION: Post-mortem skeletal muscle from anatomical body donors can yield cells capable of in vitro expansion and morphological myogenic differentiation across embryologically diverse muscle groups. Inter-donor variability limits consistent success. This pilot study provides a practical workflow and documents both successful and unsuccessful outcomes to inform future optimization.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.